cannabisnews.com: GRAMNET: No Laws Were Broken
GRAMNET: No Laws Were Broken
Posted by CN Staff on October 14, 2006 at 08:07:02 PT
By Joshua Roberts, Daily Press Writer
Source: Craig Daily Press
Colorado -- A local drug task force accused of wrongdoing by a Denver-based organization lobbying for pro-marijuana legislation denied Friday that it violated state campaign laws.The Alcohol-Marijuana Initiative committee, a branch of the group Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation, filed an open records request with the Greater Routt and Moffat Narcotics Enforcement Team earlier this month.
The group filed the request in hopes of learning whether GRAMNET violated a campaign law by spending more than $50 preparing and distributing a release that sharply criticizes Amendment 44 -- a November ballot question that proposes legalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana -- and urged residents to vote against it.The release included a section called "The Truth about Marijuana," and was attributed to eight officials in Moffat and Routt counties.GRAMNET responded to SAFER's allegations, and records request, on Friday. "In no way did we breach that $50 threshold," said Dusty Schulze, GRAMNET task force commander. "We hope this issue is resolved. We obviously didn't do anything incorrect or break any laws."In the response issued Friday, addressed to the public, media and SAFER's attorney, Robert J. Corry, Jr., Schulze wrote that information used in GRAMNET's release was taken directly from data used by the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area organization, and the Web site, www.stop44.org. GRAMNET had permission to use the information, Schulze wrote.Schulze also said that he was the only person who produced and was responsible for the anti-Amendment 44 release, a direct rebuttal of SAFER's contention that several officials helped produce the documents."In my best estimation, collectively less than one hour of total time was spent on preparing, distributing, approving and disseminating this informational document," Schulze wrote.GRAMNET also justified its release by stating that it falls in line with their mandate of providing educational information and training to the public, a requirement of the group to receive Justice Administration Grant funding."Educational information provided in the press release addressing Amendment 44 meets and exceeds this grant requirement," the task force commander wrote.Schulze also told Corry, SAFER's attorney, that he is researching what "documents or drafts, if any, are available and will forward those to you as soon as they become available."Amendment 44 proposes to legalize the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana for anyone 21 or older. GRAMNET contends that the measure allowing marijuana use hinders police and families, gives free reign to drug dealers, and provides children with easy access to a dangerous and addictive drug.On the other side of the argument is SAFER, and its campaign director, Mason Tvert. Tvert has been a vocal proponent of Amendment 44, and was chastised by local law enforcement officers on Wednesday during a campaign gathering in Craig for Colorado Attorney General John Suthers.He contends that the bill is designed to put adult marijuana use on the same plateau as adult possession and consumption of alcohol. His organization also views marijuana as less harmful than drinking alcohol.On Friday, he said his organization would not take GRAMNET to court for records pertaining to its anti-Amendment 44 press release. Earlier in the week, Corry said the group would sue for access to records if GRAMNET did not comply with SAFER's request."We're not about to spend money or time on this," Tvert said. "Nothing would be solved until after the election anyway. ... We were trying to make a point that law enforcement may have broken the law to keep people from breaking the law."It seems clear that GRAMNET is aware that they were close to breaking the law. Did they really just spend one hour on this document? I guess we will never know. But, we will certainly pursue this matter further if they spend additional tax dollars on campaign activities."While it appears SAFER's quarrel with GRAMNET is over, its push for records is not. The group announced Friday that it will filed another open record's request on Monday with the Mesa County Meth Task Force, seeking all records pertaining to the organization of a meth conference in Grand Junction. Suthers, along with Scott Burns, deputy director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, attended the conference and expressed opposition to Amendment 44."The government -- especially members of the law enforcement community -- should be carrying out and enforcing the laws, not interfering in the making of them," Tvert said. "After all, these officials are breaking more laws than anyone who simply uses marijuana in private."Schulze said he believed SAFER's open records request was a misguided attempt to find wrongdoing where none existed, and a power grab for attention."I think maybe they jumped the gun," he said. "Had they called, we could have talked to them about it. I felt like it was all kind of inflammatory."Note: Drug task force responds to pro-marijuana group's accusations of illegal activity.Newshawk: MayanSource: Craig Daily Press, The (CO)Author: Joshua Roberts, Daily Press Writer Published: Saturday, October 14, 2006 Copyright: 2006 The Craig Daily PressContact: http://tinyurl.com/lwqgwWebsite: http://www.craigdailypress.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Safer Choicehttp://www.saferchoice.org/Pot Proposal Leaves Questionshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22281.shtmlMarijuana Propaganda http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22264.shtmlHippie-Hating and Baitinghttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22244.shtml
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Comment #21 posted by Hope on October 16, 2006 at 11:23:10 PT
Kaptinemo
I've never seen CelticTexan retreat or show any signs of sanity at all, until the thread we are talking about. He always gets so mean and nasty and puffed up that everyone else just goes away.You did good!Watching it, reminded me of watching my Dad calm a really mean, raving, belligerant, wild horse.It was beautiful to see. I've never seen CelticTexan look so tamed...or thoughtful.Somehow, you made him think.I truly believe, from past experience, that he's even harsher and uglier with women...like a bully that gives the littlest kids the hardest time. He has an obviously rank disrespect for women, even more than he does other men.You did good.
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Comment #20 posted by kaptinemo on October 15, 2006 at 17:36:19 PT:
Thank you, Hope
But I have to confess that my eloquence only works when you have an opponent who can appreciate it. I didn't, that time. CelticTexan has, as most of the prohib sort usually does, beat a hasty 'advance to the rear' after realizing he's wandered into a den of ticked-off bulldogs who won't let go. As usual, we gave fact for myth, time and again, and he tried to ooze out from around the nails we pounded into his misrepresentations of fact. So, on his way out, he tries to make as if the matter hasn't been effectively settled, and put the onus for that on us. I made sure he understood we saw that tactic for what it is. But, the fact remains: so long as the prohibs remain undefeated on either the public opinion arena or the legal one (as in challenging the basis of prohibition itself in a court of law) they will always be able to weasel themselves out of tight spots. Their feet must be nailed to the floor and bodies sprayed with degreaser (to reduce their innate slipperiness) before we can make sure they can't worm their way out from under the truth.
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Comment #19 posted by whig on October 15, 2006 at 12:32:50 PT
John Tyler
You are correct. They are using language to deceive, by not counting those things that they are provided as a matter of course, but which carry a substantial cost. It is like saying that I spent no money on food today, although I may have eaten lunch from my refrigerator. The money which it cost to buy at the store yesterday is still the cost today.
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Comment #18 posted by John Tyler on October 15, 2006 at 07:51:14 PT
$50 claim seems too low
Spent not more that $50 is hard to believe. Just these guys going to one anti amendment press conference cost more than $50 in their ďon the clock timeĒ not to mention their government vehicle cost. Then the part about the creation, and distribution of propaganda materials was too much. I assume he was at work doing this. If so then there was the cost of office supplies, computer time on his office computer, copying expenses. He probably had some administrative staff help out with this. (He even says he approved materials. Meaning somebody gave it to him to approve. This implies other staff was involved.) Then there is the time spent on the countless telephone and email conversations with his pals about anti 44 planning and strategizing. I could be wrong, but that is how it seems to me.
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Comment #17 posted by Toker00 on October 15, 2006 at 03:52:09 PT
New Scientific Poll about 911 TRUTH
OT: The Great 800 lb. Gorilla In The Living Room is now VISIBLE to 84% of Americans!http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/October2006/141006poll.htmWhat ARE they going to do?Toke.
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Comment #16 posted by freewillks on October 14, 2006 at 21:06:07 PT
And it shows!
"In my best estimation, collectively less than one hour of total time was spent on preparing, distributing, approving and disseminating this informational document,"
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Comment #15 posted by The GCW on October 14, 2006 at 17:33:59 PT
Dick and DARE.
No matter what; stay the course.What prohibiitonists do doesn't work; they in fact are blind.But don't expect them to try something different.-US WI: Editorial: Failure Of Society, Not Familyhttp://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n1378/a10.html?397
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Comment #14 posted by Toker00 on October 14, 2006 at 17:26:15 PT
Doodles
DEA - Defenders of the Elite and the Anti-christCIA - Criminally Insane AdministrationFBI - Fabricators of Bullsh*t Inc.GOP - God-Offending PartyDNC - Democratic Non-ChristiansRNC - Republican Non-ChristiansPNAC - Planners for the Neo-con Anti-ChristONDCP - Organization of Non-Democratic/Constitutional PracticesNIDA - National Institute to Demonize AmericansUSA - Under Satanic AttackWage Peace on war. END CANNABIS PROHBITION NOW!
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Comment #13 posted by whig on October 14, 2006 at 14:38:07 PT
Mason
"We were trying to make a point that law enforcement may have broken the law to keep people from breaking the law."Should have said, law enforcement may have broken the law to keep people from changing the law.Doing great work there. Mason is an awesome force.
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Comment #12 posted by lombar on October 14, 2006 at 12:03:06 PT
Am I dreaming...
Even the National Post is questioning the Conservatives!!What are they smoking?
National Post
Published: Saturday, October 14, 2006It may seem like nitpicking to single out a $4-million item amidst a $2-billion package of federal spending cuts, but the Harper government's proposed rollback of Health Canada funding for medical marijuana research is worth noting as another sign of deep (one might say chronic) conservative confusion over drug issues.Legalization advocates arguing the cannabis issue are often greeted by complaints from the anti-drug set, and from jittery physicians, that the medical benefits and hazards of marijuana are too poorly researched to permit widespread use. This is a remarkable claim in many different ways. Where, for instance, was this shining precautionary principle when Vioxx was being handed out like Halloween candy to patients at risk of cardiac complications?(clipped)
Source
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Comment #11 posted by global_warming on October 14, 2006 at 11:39:49 PT
Thanks Hope, for the Link
It was powerful.http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8597101&postID=115990229602525261Yes44
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Comment #10 posted by Hope on October 14, 2006 at 11:14:01 PT
comment 7
GCW, maybe he's talking about the only hour he was paid for, but you're probably right, he's lying.He didn't compose the thing...he lifted it, plagerism style, from government writings, so maybe it didn't take too long...considering that someone else had already composed it while being paid from the public till.
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Comment #9 posted by Hope on October 14, 2006 at 11:11:05 PT
"red of tooth and claw"
I love how you say it, Kap. You have a gift. Thanks for using it for the good that we are trying to accomplish in ending this prohibition.
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Comment #8 posted by Hope on October 14, 2006 at 11:08:43 PT
Outstanding, Kaptinemo! Absolutely outstanding.
" kaptinemo said... Celtic, with regards to China's drug law executions, a little work with Google would have turned up this using just the words "China drug executions". It would seem that the surety of death doesn't deter the dealers one iota, as countries like China, Saudi Arabia, etc. have been executing drug law offenders for decades...with no appreciable dent in the amount of trafficking. That horse has been dead for a long time, it should be buried, not whipped any further. As far as school-based drug education went, I did get quite a lot of it, and it was unusually good, in that it didn't preach, but it did lay out in very clear terms what you could expect if you used. The side effects listed were enough to keep me from using back then. Tell kids the truth, up front, and you'll see that they appreciate it. Lie to them as they do in DARE classes, and watch them learn cynicism about adult motivations, a cynicism that stays with them the rest of their lives. And for the ones that use after you told them straight-up what could happen, well, the sad fact is that unlike ignorance, stupidity is a disease whose cure is usually quite drastic and often permanent. Mother Nature, red of tooth and claw, will see to that. As to providing the government with the means of "population control" as you seem to imply, are you aware of Government funded attempts to create a viral infection or fungus that can destroy drug crops in the wild that could cause vastly more damage than the scenario that you offer? Those bioweapons are indiscriminate mutagenics that can change into a form that has in the past destroyed food crops. All in a days work to 'save us from illicit drugs'...and threaten the food supply of the entire world while doing it. I'd rather have the Gub'mint dispensing dope in licensed stores to licensed addicts than run that risk (I am ex-Army Chemical Corps and know far more than I want to on how easy it is to destroy a nation's ability to feed itself through biowarfare. Bioweapons have no respect for national borders.) The idea that drug (re)legalization will create vast hordes of whacked-out people jonesing for their various fixes fails to take into account the fact we already have a largely laissesz faire market in which anyone can buy anything...and such a situation should have already brought about those hordes. Instead, those few that want the hard stuff, get it anyway, to the enrichment of the cartels and no one else. Cutting out the (criminal) middleman and placing a State agency in charge of production, regulation and licensing will gut organized crime in a way that all of our present efforts have demonstrated they cannot. (As to government power, as a responsible firearms owner, I'd be more concerned about the Gub'mint making noises about rescinding the 2nd Amendment as a step to fascism than be worried about some wretch buying heroin at a store someplace.) History has shown that we will never be rid of the possibility that some people will behave irresponsibly under the influence of any psychotropic substance. Attempting to eliminate that possibility that those same reckless people would continue to be reckless has led to the alcohol and drug prohibitions we have to day, which arguably cause more harm to society - and particularly to children, as dealers don't 'card' their prospective clients as any reputable store would - than the behaviors they were supposed to stop. We've been playing this losing hand in this card game long enough; it's time for a new game."http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8597101&postID=115990229602525261
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Comment #7 posted by The GCW on October 14, 2006 at 10:51:34 PT
cops
This is a spiritual war; God indicates He created cannabis on the 1st page of the Bible saying it is GOOD; it puts those into perspective that oppose Christ God Our Father.These cops are fighting against Christ God Our Father.Anyone that believes this cop only spent 1 solitary hour to confront Amendment 44 isnít joking to Me; Iím not that stupid.I think most of HIs fellow heathens know Heís screwing with the Truth.I hope Mason Tvert gets out the toilet paper.Perhaps when society hears the prohibitionists speak in public, We can all pull out T.P. and waive it in the air...Hundreds of people pulling out the T.P. will send a message... I'm not in a mood to listen to or read their sh$t anymore.My decission on how to think of police is based on their effort to cage humans for using a God-given plant.Pathetic anti-Christ fools. Sh$tty life forms.If there are good cops, these sh$tty cops make them cringe.
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Comment #6 posted by Hope on October 14, 2006 at 10:44:47 PT
The War on some Drugs, and cannabis is
"...a misguided attempt to find wrongdoing where none existed..."
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Comment #5 posted by potpal on October 14, 2006 at 10:34:57 PT
bold face lie
"In my best estimation, collectively less than one hour of total time was spent on preparing, distributing, approving and disseminating this informational document," Schulze wrote.1 hour, sure.Looking forward to the day that Dusty dusts off his best suit to compete for a security guard job at the local mall.
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Comment #4 posted by Hope on October 14, 2006 at 09:12:39 PT
Murder
There are a stunning amount of murder cases in this country that are unsolved. Yet our taxes are used to fund dangerous paramilitary forces to keep people from using drugs or cannabis. They are a "force" alright...a group of paramilitary thugs whose job it is to force Americans not to use the drugs they have deemed illegal.Safer is trying to put another group of harmless people in a safe area, away from the Task Force thugs. Gramnet does not want to see a loss in the number of people it can freely harrass, intimidate, steal money and assets from, ostensibly, to fight their "drug war", and persecute, persecute, persecute.Yet, people are getting away with murder in this country.How many unsolved murders in your county? How many people arrested for consumption of a herb? It only hurts the herb...if it "feels" anything....it's a consumable, a powerful pallative, and non poisonous medication...a rarity in itself. People are ruined and arrested for having anything to do with cannabis, by the government agencies like Gramnet... yet murders go unsolved...often forever.Murders go unsolved...while Gramnet officers use all their energy, police and investigative training, money, and expertise to go after cannabis users and providers.What a sick plan of "protective" government. These dangerous "warrior" thugs, if they are any kind of "asset" to this country, (which I doubt), ought to be used to solve murder cases if they are going to be used for anything.What got me to thinking about all the unsolved murders this morning, was an e-mail from the Montel Show. Montel is having a show this week, trying to get Sylvia Brown to use her psychic powers to help the family members and friends solve the murders of their loved ones.Sylvia Browne asked to solve murders? Why don't they put some of the "head-bangin" drug task force people to work on these cases?God help us.
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Comment #3 posted by Truth on October 14, 2006 at 08:38:23 PT
gramnet
Their time would be better spent going after pedophiles rather then pot smokers. sheesh. If NBC can get pedophiles to line up at children's houses certainly law enforcement is failing by putting their attention in the wrong place.
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Comment #2 posted by mayan on October 14, 2006 at 08:33:34 PT
Lies & Damned Lies
Schulze also said that he was the only person who produced and was responsible for the anti-Amendment 44 release, a direct rebuttal of SAFER's contention that several officials helped produce the documents."In my best estimation, collectively less than one hour of total time was spent on preparing, distributing, approving and disseminating this informational document," Schulze wrote.Give me a break.
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Comment #1 posted by Sam Adams on October 14, 2006 at 08:15:23 PT
gramnet
Ah yes, weren't these the same thugs that attacked a chronically ill man and looted his house, stealing his medicine and growing equipment? Then refusing to return them even after ordered to do so by a judge?Do they just extort our tax money or do they actually do anything useful? The US is the only country rich enough to just brazenly fund the paramilitary thugs right out in the open, with official uniforms and everything. In most countries they at least have to hang out up in the mountains, or at least pretend to be hiding most of the time.
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